Aerosol Generating Device with an Orientation Sensor

Abstract

An aerosol generating device includes an orientation sensor which is configured to detect the orientation of the device, a user interface which is configured to receive user inputs and a controller which is configured to enable or disable the user interface. The controller is configured to enable the user interface to accept user inputs when the detected orientation of the device is determined to be within a predefined orientation range. The controller is further configured to disable the user interface when the detected orientation is determined to be outside of the predefined orientation range.

1 . An aerosol generating device, comprising:
 an orientation sensor configured to detect the orientation of the device;   a user interface configured to receive user inputs, wherein the user interface is configured to operate a heating function of the device; and   a controller configured to enable the user interface to accept user inputs when the detected orientation of the device is determined to be within a predefined orientation range, and wherein the controller is further configured to disable the user interface when the detected orientation is determined to be outside of the predefined orientation range.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to enable the user interface to accept user inputs when the detected orientation of the device is determined to be within the predefined orientation range for a predefined time period. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises a button. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the orientation sensor comprises a gyroscope. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the predefined orientation range comprises orientations where the longitudinal axis of the device is confined within a cone defined around a vertical axis. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 5 , wherein the angle subtended by the cone and the vertical axis is at least 60 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 5 , further comprising a mouthpiece, and wherein the predefined orientation is where the mouthpiece is pointing upward. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to receive a consumable for heating. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an opening, wherein the opening is configured to receive a solid consumable, and wherein the predefined orientation is where the opening is pointing upward. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to disable the user interface immediately when the detected orientation is determined to be outside of the predefined orientation range. 
     
     
         11 . A method for using an aerosol generating device, comprising:
 detecting the orientation of the device using an orientation sensor;   enabling a user interface to accept user inputs using a controller when the detected orientation of the device is determined to be within a predefined orientation range, the user interface configured to operate a heating function of the device; and   disabling the user interface using the controller when the detected orientation is determined to be outside of the predefined orientation range.   
     
     
         12 . A computer readable memory medium comprising executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform steps comprising:
 determining the orientation of the device based on data from an orientation sensor;   enabling a user interface to accept user inputs using a controller when the detected orientation of the device is determined to be within a predefined orientation range, the user interface configured to operate a heating function of the device; and   disabling the user interface using the controller when the detected orientation is determined to be outside of the predefined orientation range.   
     
     
         13 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 6 , wherein the angle subtended by the cone and the vertical axis is at least 80 degrees.